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Published: July 17, 2012
Words: 53,550 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781476499802
Short description
Margeaux Quigley has it all: the eyes of every guy in her senior class, a full scholarship to Stanford thanks to her soccer skills … and the seat as Commander in Chief of the United States in 2036?! Margeaux finds herself being dragged through a deadly chess game from 1984 to the future where her presidential self has been kidnapped by a tycoon who wants to rule the world. She must checkmate him.Extended description
In the distant past, shatranj was the ancestor of chess. In 2036, "shatranj" is the password for a time-warp chess match that jumps 17-year-old Margeaux Quigley -- the chosen pawn among eight classmates kidnapped from high school detention in 1984 -- 52 years to 2036. Margeaux, who only ages 52 minutes during the leap, is asked to help checkmate Robert Ballentine, the self-proclaimed king of America. A corporate pirate who goes by the nickname "Balls," Ballentine is holding America's first female president hostage aboard a ship after a successful coup of the federal government on New Year’s Day, 2036. An Australian-born, University of Texas-educated oil, shipping and media tycoon, Ballentine pulls off the hostile takeover with military and technological support from China, North Korea and dozens of U.S. turncoats. He also threatens to kill the president if the U.S. military attempts any major counterattacks during the transition phase. But when Ballentine holds a contest to find a .. (Read more)Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.
Tags
military, poker, china, queen, alien, australia, king, area 51, united states, chess, pawnAvailable ebook reading formats
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Reviews
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Review by:
Lourie Beiter
on May 02, 2013 :
** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
“Queens are Wild” is gripping from the start and holds you hostage until the very end.
Jack Chaucer delivers an intriguing idea of time travel and follows it up with a side of female kick ass action.
There are things that work well for this story and Margeaux Quigley the female protagonist is at the top of the list. She is self confident, athletic, intelligent and always ready to defend herself as well as her country. Much to the chagrin of those who are trying to help her she also speaks her mind.
Second would be the rapid paced narrative which leaves no lag time. The idea of jumping into the future from playing a living version of chess is also captivating and unquestionably original.
However no story is without its flaws and “Queens are Wild” is no exception. The biggest problem was weak dialogue and poor descriptions. There is also a slight conundrum with the time travel and the ending but all in all this was an exhilarating chronicle and worth the few hours to read.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
midnightfaerie
on April 10, 2013 :
Queens are wild was a quick and fun read. Not knowing what to expect from one minute to the next, left me anxious to finish each chapter, and unable to put the book down. Without giving too much away, the book is about a 17-year old girl named Margeaux, who unknowingly gets dragged into helping take down a traitor to America. A girl in the 1980's with no special abilities, other than her beauty, Margeaux finds herself in a different time with some pretty special powers and the ability to kick ass with no prior training. The book was fast paced and pretty smooth in the transition from one scene to another. Chaucer also did a good job with reiterating the chess theme throughout the book without it coming off as trite or overdone.
There were only a couple of minor things that stood out to me. The first thing was, towards the end of the story, there were a few scenes that would probably be considered rated R even though technically there was no sex in them, only the talking about sex. This wouldn't be a problem, if either the rest of the book was raunchy or at least gave hints of the raunchiness to come. It seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't really fit with how the book was written thus far.
The other thing was the length of the book. It was too short not only because I really liked the story and wanted more of it, but also because it felt like it should be a novel and not a novella. There were areas that were only brushed upon and were significant opportunities to add some more flavor and depth to the novel, such as the "virtual-type" chess game (don't want to give too much away) or when the deck of cards, all queens, showed up outside Margeaux's door. Both fantastic ideas, just too brief to really absorb. I wanted so much more.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this book. The characters were well thought out and described nicely, the plot progressed at a wonderful pace, and I was never for a second let down or bored. This story had a surprise at every turn, and made for a great suspense and drama-filled book all in one. I highly recommend it and look forward to more of Chaucer's work.
www.ClassicsDefined.com
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
anna91
on March 04, 2013 :
This was so much fun to read! It was fast-paced, action-packed, well written and overall very enjoyable. What I liked most about it was the original and creative plot - I've never read anything like it.
I definitely recommend it!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Elizabeth Barone
on Jan. 10, 2013 :
This was a fun read, with an intriguing and unique plot. I worried that it might be the typical, boring poli-thriller that I usually stay away from, but QUEENS ARE WILD dragged me in right away and kept me reading with its excellent pacing and innovative storyline.
My only complaint is the occasional surplus of exposition—which is forgivable, though, because of the excellent pacing. I can't wait to see what Chaucer comes up with next.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Harry Nicholson
on Dec. 13, 2012 :
A Titan brought low.
The intricate moves of the ancient game of chess are now set in a time shift filled with doppelgangers. What at first seems just another pawn in an ego-driven king's game of power, makes her way deep into the enemy house and 'queens' herself, again and again.
This is a story full of surprises; one that moves with pace from a 20th century schoolroom with the usual belligerent pupils, through a human, but surreal, chess matrix, into a future where a brash rich man plots to found a new dynasty.
Innovative and entertaining.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Missy Bair
on Dec. 01, 2012 :
"Check, asshole!" An on the edge of your seat must read of 2012.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)
Review by:
John Pansini
on Oct. 20, 2012 :
Great pacing from beginning to end. There were no dead zones, the story did not bog down anywhere. The author took an intricate plot and made it easy to follow. Well thought out. And no typos!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Sean Look
on Oct. 19, 2012 :
An intense story of a young woman's quest to save her older, more influential self from the tyranny of a merciless monarch. 'Queens are Wild' is like a drug - the unexpected twists make the book addictive to the end.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Erynn Louviaite
on Sep. 27, 2012 :
Initial reaction: fascinatingly unique concept. I love futuristic stories, especially those that aren’t afraid to point out flaws with our present. Beautifully written with great vocabulary. The characters are relatable and jump off the page. Story and character development are balanced with exciting action scenes and innovative ideas. Although I have not finished the book, I have a feeling twists and more action are on the way.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Jason York
on Aug. 25, 2012 :
This was a brilliantly paced read that managed to transport me across time but yet link me to our ever-changing present day in a crystal-clear way.
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Eric Harding
on Aug. 25, 2012 :
A ripping yarn! Great characters that grow throughout the story, intriguing and compelling plotting, and some great one-liners to boot. It's also a trenchant statement about our society's fascination with and adulation of celebrity at any cost: this story is sadly not that much of stretch.
By the conclusion, I didn't want it to end -- could a sequel (prequel?) be in store?
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Laurie mckinnon
on July 26, 2012 :
Very exciting and rapidly page-turning novel!! The country's fate resting in the balance of good vs. evil. The evil (Ballantine) is quite likeable however and so driven by greed. I will never see a chess game as mundane and tranquil again!!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
dan wheeler
on July 26, 2012 :
This is a great read. I couldn't put it down.
I've never seen a concept with this idea before, very original.
A good story that kept me interested from start to finish.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Kathleen Moses
on July 25, 2012 :
Wow!! What a ride!! Great characters and unexpected twists and turns!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)
Review by:
Bill Bernardi
on July 21, 2012 :
A thoroughly enjoyable adventure for any reader with an interest in one's quest to play the ultimate game: world domination. Although originally labeling herself as a pawn in the elaborate contest of human chess, Margeaux quickly discovers that she has risen in rank and must do her best to avoid a queen sacrifice. With the world's freedom at stake, it's a game she can not afford to lose. Queens are wild? Indeed.
(reviewed the day of purchase)